Flexible strap wrenches



Aug. 15, 1961 F. B. HOCKNEY FLEXIBLE STRAP WRENCHES Filed 001?. 20, 1958 FIGZ FIGJ

FIG.3

IN VE N TOR FRED B- HO N ORNEY United States Patent 0.

2,995,965 FLEXIBLE STRAP WRENCHES Fred 'B. Hockney, Kenosha, Wis, assignor to Snap-On Tools Corporation, Kenosha, Wis, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 20, 1958, Ser. No. 768,459 4 Claims. (Cl. 81-64) This invention relates to spanner wrenches and more particularly to wrenches of the strap enveloping type to grasp and turn objects or devices having a large periphery or circumference, although certain features thereof may be employed with equal advantage for other purposes.

It contemplates more especially the provision of an improvedflexible wrench construction having a strap grasping and retaining element which imparts greater and more effective holding of the object to be turned as the turning force is increased without any appreciable wear and tear Of the strap.

Numerous types of flexible wrenches have heretofore been proposed, but these are entirely free from disadvantageous wear and tear of the flexible strap as the turning effort is increased, and usually impart more damage thereto as the turning force is increased by reason of the pinch imparted to the strap in effecting a secure grasp thereon against slippage. With the teachings of the present invention, the grasp or frictional connection between the strap and engaging element can be increaed without appreciably wearing or impairing the strap in securing engagement therewith. This i accomplished by turning the strap overlap in relation to the holding element along a gradual curved surface of the latter so that there will be no appreciable sharp pinch of the flexible member or strap. The holding member serves also as the turning member for the object, and the desired leverage is applied thereto by means of a suitable moment arm such as a handle member engageable therewith.

One object of the present invention is to simplify and improve the construction of devices of the character mentioned.-

Another object is to provide an improved flexible wrench having an arcuately curved strap rolling and engaging member to secure and maintain the strap in tightly embraced relation with the device to be turned without any appreciable pinching effect upon the strap as it is drawn tight in the turning movement.

Still another object is to provide an improved and more effective flexible wrench strap adjusting and retaining member which increases the friction grasp upon the strap in an efiectively gradual manner without impairment thereto.

A further object is to provide a substantially cylindrical strap adjusting and retaining member for a flexible wrench and the like.

A still further object is to provide a flexible wrench strap engaging and rolling member to fn'ctionally envelop and arcuately engage the strap for the effective turning grasp thereof with increased engagement of the article to be turned therewith.

Still a further object is to provide a cylindrical strap adjusting and engaging member for effectively enveloping a member and frictionally grasping the surface thereof responsive to the rolling action thereof in relation to the surface of the member to be turned therewith.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a flexible wrench embodying features of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view in elevation of the device shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front view of a detachable handle for turning the flexible Wrench illustrated on FIGURES 1 and 2.

2,995,965 Patented Aug. 15, 19.61

The structure selected for illustration is not intended to serve as a limitation upon the scope of the teachings of the invention, but is merely illustrative thereof. There may be considerable variations and adaptationsof all or part of the teachings depending upon the dictatesof com mercial practice.

The present embodiment comprises an elongated flat rectangular band or strap 10 of flexible and durable thick woven fabric to render such capable of an exceedingly high tensile strength without impairing its flexibility to envelop an enlarged object having a geometrical ex.- terior surface for frictional grasp and the required turning. The strap 10 is reversely folded at one end to provide a loop 1010 around a pin 11 anchored inan en ag n and re i ing m m r to e he eina t described. The strap loop 10'10' is closed around the pin 11 by stitching as at 12-12 or for that matter the loop '1010' may be riveted or otherwise closed as commercial practice may dictate.

The free end of the strap 10 is displaced over the pin 11 to project as at 13 therebeyond after being threaded through the retainer body 14 which has an elongated slot 15 diametrically therethrough and communicating with one cylindrical edge portion of the retainer body 14 to provide confronting surfaces within which the pin ll-11 is mounted. This affords the threadingof the strap end 13 through the body opening 15 over and in contracting relation with the strap loop 1010. This forms an enlarged loop of the strap 10 around and in eveloping relation with any large object to be turned by imparting rotary movement to the retainer body 14.

To this end, the retainer body 14 has its ends provided with square recesses for the detachable engagement of a handle member 16 (FIGURE 3) having square protruding work engaging heads 17 for frictional reception within the axial recesses 1819 provided in the ends of the retainer body 14 (FIGURE 2). It should be noted that the body member 14 preferably is provided with a cylindrical exterior surface having a knurled or roughened portion in the path of the strap 10 that is threaded or laced therethrough for rolling engagement thereover as the body 14 is rotated with the aid of the handle member 16 having a hand grasping pin 21 disposed through the end of its shank for applying increased turning moment thereto.

By utilizing the handle member 16 in either socket 18 or 19 depending upon the direction of rotation to be imparted to the strap retainer body 14, the retainer body 14 will roll over the strap '10-13 to increase the friction upon the device which is enveloped by the latter and increase the grip thereon as the enveloping loop of the strap 10-13 decreases in size as it rolls over the retainer body knurled surface 20. The diameter of the retainer body 14 is such that the strap is rolled thereover along a gradual curve so as not to pinch the strap too abruptly in effecting the retention thereof. Thus the knurled retainer body surface 20 securely holds the strap against slipping outwardly of the slot 15 and it effectively tends to reduce the diameter thereof as the turning moment increases as applied by the handle member 16 axially and rotatively to the retainer body 14.

With the above arrangement and features, an effective grasp of large articles or devices is possible without pinching the strap 1013 and causing effective turning thereof with minimum wear and tear on the strap 1013. While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it must be understood that the invention is capable of considerable variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a strap wrench, the combination with a body member, of a strap loosely looped for anchored en gagement with said body member, said body memberbeing formed as an interrupted cylinder thereby providing a 'portion with an arcuate surface between two end portions, means securing one end of said strap to said body member, said body member having a slot between said arcuate surface portion and said strap securing means to receive said strap for defining an article-engaging loop, and turning means at the end portions whereby said strap will roll over said arcuate surface to effectively grip the periphery of an article located within said loop as said body member is turned.

2. A device defined in claim 1 wherein the strap sethe I curing means comprises an elongated pin bridging the 7 slot in said body member proximate to the circumference 3. A device defined in claim 2 wherein the turning means are provided and positioned axially relative to said body member for efiect-ively turning an object enveloped by said strap.

4. A device defined in claim 3 wherein the slot is disposed diametrically through said body member and the surface of the latter is knurled for contact with a portion of said strap responsive'to tightening and turning an object within the loop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 714,610 Rawe Nov. 25, 1902 1,383,123 Jones June 28, 1921 2,787,924 Hammer Apr. 9, 1957 2,793,550 Robinson et a1 May 28, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 466,487 Canada July 11, 1950 

